Wrench



W. H. SPANIER.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.28, L920.

1,349,63 1. Patented Aug- 17, 1920.

VE NTOR WI'TN ESSES UNITED STATES WALDEMAR H. SPANIER, OF DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed January 28, 1920. Serial No. 354,685.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALnnMAn H. Sran IER, a citizen of the United States, reslding at Devils Lake, in the county of Ramsey and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful Wrench, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and particularly to that class having twin jaws pivotally mounted in opposed relatlon to each other ina relatively stationary body member, said jaws proper comprising the short ends of levers which are adapted to to be forced together to give a powerful gripping action, through the medium of a pivoted actuating handle located between the said levers and having alternate engagement with the long ends of the levers to actuate one or the other thereof, depending upon the direction of rotationof the wrench.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character wherein the functions are performed by a minimum number of parts, which are formed in a simple manner, and to so proportion the same as to secure the greatest amount of leverage, thus providing a wrench having the maximum power. 7

A full and complete understanding ofthe invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed ClGSCl'lption, taken in connection. with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed and modified, so long as such changes or modificationslmark no material departure from the salient featuresthereof, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention; a i

Fig. 2 is a sideview of the same;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional, view thereof.

The wrench comprises an elongated body membercomposed of a base plate 1 formed of suitable sheet metal, preferably steel, of sufficient thickness to withstand the excessive strain to which such tools are subjected, said base plate having, adjacent toits forward end, a pair of spaced perforations 2, arranged equi-distant from the median line of the base plate, and each perforation being also equidistant from the front end and the side edges of the plate, the corners of the latter being rounded as at 3, such curvature being struck on the centers of theperforations as an axis.

The side edges of the base plate 1 are slightly converged toward the rear end of the latter, which has its rear corners cut away to form inclined walls 4, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and a third perforation 5 is provided through the plate on the median line thereof and midway between the perforations 2 and the rear end thereof.

A pair of identical jaw members 6, preferably formed of hardened steel, are adapted to be mounted on the base plate 1 in straddling relation to the same in the following manner. Each jaw comprises an elongated shank portion 7 having a longitudinal slot 8 formed therein, said slot extending throughout the major portion of the shank 7, and having its forward end wall 9 rounded to correspond to the rounded shoulders 3 of the base plate 1, and its rear end wall 10 inclined to correspond withthe walls 4 of the same, the said slot being of a width to snugly receive the base plate and to lie thereon, with the side edges of the base plate flush with the outer edges of the saidj aw members.

Adjacent to their forward ends each jaw member is provided with a pair of inwardly extending cars 11, adapted to lie flat against the side faces of the base plate and having centrally disposed perforations in alinemeut with the respective perforations 2 of the latter, and adapted to be pivotally connected to the same through the medium of rivets 12 traversing the several alined perforations and headed over in the usual manner to prevent their displacement therefrom.

That portion of each jaw member 6 extending forwardly from the front end of the base plate 1 constitutes the jaw proper 1% or active end of the same, and may be straight as shown, or may be curved, or fluted, or toothed as desired, it being customary to curve and tooth said jaws where engaging the work, if the device is to be constructed as a pipe wrench, or u0 leave the same straight for general use, such as for removing or tightening nuts, etc. It will be noted that when the jaws arc in their wide open position, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, with their outer edges in alinement with the outer edges of the base plate, the working faces of said aws flare outwardly so as to provide for the ready application-of the wrench to the work to be operated upon.

At their rear ends the shanks 7, beyond the inclined terminal walls 10 of the slots 8, are rounded as at Hand are each provided with a centrally disposed, inwardly directed lug 15, said lug being equal in thickness to the width of the slot 8 and adapted to normally lie flat against the rearmost portions of the inclined walls at of the base plate, and in close proximity to the rear end of the latter.

An actuating handle comprising a pair of elongated metallic plates or bars 16 are arranged, one at either side of the base plate, and have their adjacent forward ends rounded as at 17 and provided, centrally of such rounded ends with alined perforations for the reception of a rivet 18, which also traverses the perforation 5 of the base plate, and thus pivotally connects the handle to the'base plate and causes the same to act as a lever ofthe second class in coacting with and actuating the jaws, to cause the latter to act as levers of the first class for exerting a powerful pressure-upon the object to be turned.

Thehandle plates or bars 16 are of a width to fit between the inner opposed edges of the jaw members 6 which normally lie parallel, as in Fig. 1,'and the lugs 15 are adapted to fit between the said plates 16 when the jaws are open, and the handle lies in, longitudinal alinement with the median line of the base plate, the outer ends of the said plates 16 being held in the corresponding spaced relation by a spacing block 19 which is secured in position, at the ends of the said plates, by suitable rivets 20, the terminals of the plates being rounded so as to obvlatc any square corners or pro ecting parts to injure the hands of the operator.

he front ends of the jaws 13 are rounded, as at21, so as to facilitate the introduction of the said jaws to the work in hand, and to alsoenable the operator to work in narrow or restricted places, as will be readily understood.

It will be noted that'when the handle is in alinement with the center line of the base member, the jaws have their rear lugs 15 located between the plates 16, the shoulders 15 are located at either side of the said lug and rest upon the opposite edges of the said plates 16, the outer side edges of the jaws and base membe are flush with each other, and the active. ends of said jaws are in their wide-open positions for the reception of the maximum. size pipe, nut or other object. liy moving the handle in either direction, one or the other of the jaws is caused to rock about its pivot 12, by reason of the shoulders 15 resting upon the edges of the handle plates, the actuating jaw acting as a first-class lever to move the active end of the same into powerful gripping action against the work, the other jaw remaining in its straddling relation to the base plate and forming an immovable abutment to the work, in opposition to the gri 'i 'iing jaw. By reason of the interlocking engagement of the lugs 15 between the plates of the handle, and the fact that the jaws straddle the base plate, the strength of the aws is materially increased and is positively prevented from any lateral movement, as the lug of the moving jaw rides up the slot between the handle plates as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple, powerful and eflicicnt wrench has been provided which may be manufactured at a low cost, that the same is easily operated, requiring no adjustment and may be adapted for use as a pipe wrench or other uses.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A wrench comprising a single base plate, a pair of substantially identical jaws pivotally mounted on the opposite side edges of the base plate in opposed relation to each other and arranged longitudinally thereof, the pivots of said jaws being located at the forward end of said plate, and said jaws having their active ends projecting beyond said plate, the rear ends of said jaws normally surrounding the rear end of the plate and having inwardly directed lugs in spaced relation, an actuating hand lever longitudinally slotted so as to lie flat against the opposite sides of the base plate, said slot forming a. guideway for said lugs, said lever being fulcrumed at its forward end along the median line of the base plate between the jaws and adapted to contact with the rear ends of the jaws to force the active end of one of the jaws toward the other; one of the said lugs riding in the slot of the hand lever when that jaw is actuated by the same.

2. A wrench comprising a single elongated base plate, a pair of substantially identical jaws slotted longitudinally of their lengths to receive the side edge portions of the base plate, and having inwardly directed perforated ears near their forward active ends, pivots fulcruming the said jaws through the ears to the forward end of the base plate in opposed relation to each other, the active ends of the jaws extending be yond said base plate and the rear ends thereamen g one or the other of said jaws by contacting with the rear end thereof.

In testimony that I clalm the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

WALDEMAR H. SPANIER. Witnesses EFFIE E. LUNERFORD, ROLLO F. HUNT. 

